ST JAMES, Jamaica — Several taxi drivers in St James have withdrawn their services in protest against alleged mistreatment.

Taxi operators in the second city are the latest to join the islandwide industrial action. Similar strike action left taxi operators divided in downtown Kingston on Monday morning.

There have also been strikes initiated in Spanish Town and Portland.

This follows a meeting last Wednesday between stakeholders and the Island Traffic Authority about potentially reinstating driver’s license suspensions due to accumulated demerit points.

READ: Taxi operators in downtown Kingston split on strike

The drivers in Montego Bay, who primarily serve the Cornwall Courts and Salt Spring routes, state that their grievances include the demerit point system and the alleged jailing of one of their own. Observer Online understands that the person in custody was a key player in the strike.

The drivers insist that until they receive favourable news regarding their jailed colleague, they plan to continue the strike for at least the remainder of the week and will decide the way forward after that.

“Them need to free Out A Road, and if them no do it, we na go back on the road,” one of the striking taxi operators remarked.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has called the all-island transportation strike “premature and unnecessary” even as he finalises plans to meet with stakeholders to discuss public passenger operators’ issues with the suspension of licenses. The meeting is set for Tuesday.

READ: All-island transportation strike ‘premature and unnecessary’ says Vaz